Recent drought conditions in California and Nevada have lasted four years. Here, Echo Bay Marina in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada is left bare by drought. Image: James M. Phelps, Flickr

While the planet’s future may seem bleak in face of climate change, many of these projected disasters can be mitigated by immediate action on behalf of the planet—both on the part of individuals as well as governments and businesses. Though it would take many years to reverse the impacts of human greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere,we currently have an opportunity to take action to support our environment. If we use this chance to protect our planet, we can secure its future as a healthy home for many more years.

Hilde Oliver is a PhD student in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Georgia, where she studies how extreme melting of Greenland’s ice sheet is impacting marine ecosystems. Hilde is a huge fan of Korean food, yoga, and campy movies. Follow her on Twitter @polar_plankton or shoot her an email at hildeoliver@uga.edu. More from Hilde Oliver.